The population of Vizarrón and Santa Rosa Jáuregui has been requesting to become new municipalities; however, the new Citizen Participation Law of the state of Querétaro has determined that they cannot be consulted for this process.
Recently, a request was sent from the local Congress to the Electoral Institute of the state to determine what would be the best mechanism for consultation to implement, whether plebiscite or referendum. Grisel Muñiz Rodríguez, the presiding councilor, explained that, in the absence of a formal request, the electoral body cannot comment on the matter.
The new law, published on February 14, has changed the landscape regarding participation mechanisms, and Muñiz Rodríguez stated that she cannot affirm the viability of the current request due to its lack. Articles 12, 29, and 56 of the new law specify that the creation of municipalities cannot be submitted to plebiscite or referendum, nor can it be the subject of citizen initiatives.
In October 2024, the initiative to create the municipality of Santa Rosa Jáuregui was submitted, with 10 assemblies held so far and a goal of reaching 70 or 75 to involve all 44 communities and neighborhoods of the delegation. Meanwhile, the initiative for Vizarrón was submitted in December of the same year, and both proposals are in the process of analysis in the Constitutional Points Commission.
Ulises Gómez de la Rosa, the author of the projects, emphasized that they are seeking maximum possible citizen participation, given that the projects arose from the citizenship. Although the initial intention was to hold a referendum in 2025, Gómez de la Rosa did not mention whether the new law would affect the process, but he assured that they are coordinating efforts with the Constitutional Points Commission to endorse community work and that this will influence the final decision that will be made at the plenary session.
